Showing posts with label Marketing and Advertising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marketing and Advertising. Show all posts

Friday, October 5, 2012

Mobilized Marketing: How to Drive Sales, Engagement, and Loyalty Through Mobile Devices

Mobile-phone-advertising
Mobile-phone-advertising (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I've had the pleasure of interviewing Jeff about his book on my mobile marketing talk show and he is every bit as amazing in person as he is in the book.

Anyone...and I mean anyone that speaks the words "mobile marketing" should read this book. That means if you're an entrepreneur, a small agency owner, a consultant, a large agency, a brand marketer, client side, CMO, CEO, you name it...this is the book you should read on mobile marketing. There are a few others out there you should read too but not many dive into the logic and thinking behind the initiatives executed in this book.

It's a great read for beginners to mobile marketing and a must read for anyone looking to execute a mobile initiative. A lot of people get caught up in the hype and innovation of mobile but Jeff tells it how it is. He talks about the strategies that have worked while addressing the innovation. He show you proved campaigns from big brands as well small business like a car dealership.

Mobile is also not going to save your business. Jeff is very much a realistic marketer, business person and human being. No BS, no hype, he breaks down the mobile space very well so that anyone can understand it.

I highly recommend this book. Jeff Hasen is a great writer and one of the most knowledgeable people in the mobile space both of which are actively displayed in this book.

I've had the pleasure to interview some of the top mobile marketers in the industry on my show and I CONSTANTLY quote Jeff's book, his work, his insights and more. I very much see the space the way he does which makes it easy to agree with him but he backs everything up.

If you're in marketing it's a must read for sure.


Article Source:
http://www.amazon.com/review

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

3 Steps to Successful B2B Social Media Marketing


What's missing in your Social Media?

Find out how B2B companies can be positively impacted by social media marketing and executing inbound marketing tactics. Learn what the missing ingredients are for successful social media campaigns. 


Special guest Nancy Myrland, President of Myrland Marketing, and Chad Pollitt, Director of Social Media & Search Marketing, will reveal three steps for successful B2B social media marketing.


Webinar hightlights:

  • Why B2B should use Social Media to connect with clients
  • Why B2B struggle with Social Media
  • How to approach the use of Social Media - Engagement
  • What Content should be Distributed on Social Media
  • Examples of B2B companies using Social Media successfully

Chad Pollitt shares where social media fits in an inbound marketing strategy and content's role. He will also define the tactical areas where many B2B companies struggle and offer solutions. Nancy Myrland will go into further strategic and tactical detail on content, delivery and engagement.


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Monday, October 1, 2012

Location Based Marketing For Dummies Review

Location-Based Marketing For Dummies
Location-Based Marketing For Dummies
These days, there's a lot of talk about location-based services and marketing via those channels. Some of that information is good and some not so good. I was very happy to hear two people who are very knowledgeable in the web marketing arena, namely Aaron Strout and Mike Schneider, were going to tackle this very important topic in book form.

Location-Based Marketing for Dummies is packed full of useful information broken up into five sections:

  • Putting a Little "Location" in Your Marketing Campaign - which goes over the different location-based services and how they are used by consumers
  • Location-Based Marketing in Action - which covers the tactical parts of putting together a location-based campaign of your own
  • Integrating Location into Other Channels - covering the more strategic aspects of incorporating location-based activities into a larger marketing plan
  • Measuring Your Return on Investment - there's no point in implementing an online marketing plan of any kind if you don't attempt to measure its success; very important information is in this section
  • The Part of Tens - which is a collection of lists with a lot of interesting and useful information including some possibly up-and-coming location services

All in all this book is easy to understand and breaks down the information in such a way that it's more of a step-by-step guide rather than just a "for Dummies" book. I very much liked how it was organized to take someone from "zero to sixty" in a short time, getting them going on using location-based services as part of their marketing strategy. It's full of useful ideas and tips to help anyone plan and run an excellent program, complete with coupons and loyalty rewards, if those are desired components.

I especially appreciate the measurement section. All too often we're told that online marketing efforts really can't be measured. This is not true, and I'm happy to see this book includes an entire section devoted to this very important aspect of a successful online location-based program.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about location-based technologies and how to use them for business purposes. I think it would be especially useful to the small- or medium-sized business owner or marketing person who is looking to get an edge over the competition. That being said, those with larger companies, especially those with multiple locations, can also learn a lot from this work.

Disclaimer: I requested an advanced copy of the book and received one free of charge to me. This is, still, my honest opinion of the work.


Article Source:
http://www.amazon.com/review
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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Money Saving Marketing for Industrial SMEs

Johan Staël von Holstein, Chief Executive Offi...
Johan Staël von Holstein, Chief Executive Officer, Mycube, Singapore - on social media (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some of us prioritise quality above all - some of us prioritise low cost - it seems to me that successful SMEs seek a balance - having neither the budgets to achieve the very highest in quality, nor the desire to be seen as cheap and tatty - so we play the odds and guided by Pareto's law we aim for an 80/20 balance - in this case 80% of the effect with 20% of the spend.

This may sound like a big ask - but compare with elsewhere - what is the cost comparison between mainstream technology e.g. cars, music systems, computers etc. and the very highest specs available? If you could have promotion categorized like cars what would you choose - Ford/GM? VW? Landrover? Mercedes? Ferrari? Rolls Royce?

Would you be happy with the quality/performance of a VW or would you demand Rolls Royce - what is appropriate to your company - perhaps this should relate in some way to the level at which you work - if you are a leading edge technology company focused on the highest quality and performance e.g. working in Formula 1 or aerospace, then you will probably take a different view than if you are in a more widely based lower tech industry.

Even so I doubt you are interested in throwing money away - so at whatever level - most of us are interested in value for money - and for industrial SMEs I believe we should always be looking to achieve the biggest bang for our buck - making our company look bigger and better over a sustainable long term growth path. To do this we can follow a few simple guidelines.

Perhaps most important is that you form good supplier relationships with people who can understand your needs and where you are seeking to go - which of course pre-supposes that you know yourself - so if you don't know then fix that first - long term good relations with good suppliers can save you a lot of money and heartache.

This is not to say never change - but change for the right reasonsand with a better option in view - indeed if you can, then choose suppliers who can not only perform at the level you require now but are also capable of developing along with you. For example most of our business as a marketing agency is with clients who have been with us for around 15 years - over that time they have grown and we have guided their activities into the internet age while their competitors have faltered. We and our clients have grown together - to mutual benefit in achieving that cost/performance balance.

As a principle "do deals" for programs - you would elsewhere. Your marketing/publicity program is little different to any other investment - it has an entry cost, a learning curve, and a cost of ownership including maintenance and development - what you buy is market awareness, reputation, presence, being in-front of the right people at the right time leading to interest in you as a supplier. You may be sure that when it is known that you are open to a deal then publishers will soon put you on their list of people to call with last minute low cost offers and you can do one-off deals there as well.

Match quality appropriately - remember good enough is exactly that -so you need to understand what is appropriate as do the Marketing agencies that you deal with - in this respect learn to brief your own staff and 3rd parties fully and clearly so that you get what you need at a price you are comfortable with - none of us like over spend surprises (!) and you can minimize these in the way you handle your relationships.

Especially if you have not done any marketing/promotions before then it may be a good idea to dip a toe in the water i.e. do the activity initially at a low cost level, if you can't afford the expensive one or are unsure of what exactly you need - feedback into the program as it develops and you see the benefit. This is a fluid process - unlike a fixed investment you can adapt easily and adjust as you learn and your needs change.

I have often gone through this process with new clients, coming to us on the basis of trust-by-recommendation but no experience - summed up as "I know we need something (promotion) but I don't know what". Over a period of years we transition through an initial "getting to know you" phase of a few months developing trust and understanding - then working from the most cost effective activity through to the many others as their business develops and budgets grow with them. Essentially what a good marketing agency will do is to help a client grow from a small company to a large one - and that means both parties being sensitive to the process and the pace of change possible - and as ever to the budget.

Be aware that you can do a lot of it in-house - but do check out the real cost to your company - for example if the Managing Director is going to do it personally then work out how much their time is worth to the company - if he/she were being charged out what would the hourly rate be? £100ph - £300ph? Be realistic. A good marketing agency could save you a lot of money just on that basis alone quite aside from questions of capability, efficiency, effectiveness, focus, etc.

So brief your suppliers clearly- if your supplier is in-house then still brief them clearly - if your supplier is you personally then it is just as important - remember how much you cost.

Keep it simple - KISS - keep the brief simple - keep the promotional product simplee.g. the press release, article, advertisement, social media campaign, etc.

Please don't agonise over P.R. subjects. Taking them too seriously is simply procrastinating and time wasting and expensive - if you know your business then sit down and make a list of P.R. subjects off the top of your head or work through your catalogue. You can always modify your list.

Balance your marketing activities so that they work together and complement each other,e.g. use press release content as blog posts, as Tweets, as newsletters, put on your website news page etc. Create adverts and whitepapers around the products and services you give high priority and then channel them into the PR and Social Media programs.

Enroll your sales people in supplying P.R. material - the media and readers love application storiesthat they can relate to, especially if they are a bit different/quirky/humorous or whatever - this usually proves difficult to achieve - I know one company who offers a substantial cash bonus to sales engineers just for the customer contact details of an interesting application and still has very few takers - but the stories that do come through work very well indeed.

Now how obvious is this - take lots of pictures of products in-situ, applications etc. - you never know when they will come in handy. Buy a good automatic camera and carry it with you. Use it to document applications at reasonable resolution e.g. a 1Mb file size or better. Remember a good application shot will overcome lack of quality and is easy to do while you are there - and generally at zero cost. It can always be cut onto a suitable background later if necessary. Whereas organising to come back later will cost a great deal more.


Article Source: 
http://EzineArticles.com/7294309

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Guerilla Marketing Ideas for Real Estate

English: guerilla marketing - heb עברית: שיווק...
English: guerilla marketing - heb עברית: שיווק גרילה (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In every business, the marketing strategy being used is vital. This is what determines how successful an individual will be able to sell of his products and services to other people. For this reason, it is vital for a business owner to make use of aggressive marketing techniques in order to attract the right people. This is where Guerilla Marketing ideas for real estate sales are highly appreciated.

Since every marketer needs to have leads that translate to a successful business, the importance of using a marketing strategy should never be neglected. For every new business owner, generating fresh leads is difficult. This is why they need to be aggressive and look for people who might be more than willing to join them in their business. Given the fact that it's already difficult to find leads, it is even more challenging to keep consistent leads. For this, some online tactics are highly needed.

4 Ways to Generate Consistent Leads Online

Tip #1: Have Your Own Website

Having your own website has certainly paid off for many business owners. This is because it has allowed their audience to see what the business is truly about. In addition, it allows them to gain trust in the company because they have been able to get ideas about the establishment.

Tip #2: Write Articles

There are now several article submission sites where you can publish your articles to. This will allow individuals to see different information that you have provided about your business. When they are looking for a particular product, they will get to find your articles and will visit your website. This is a great way they can get in touch with you.

Tip #3: Paid Advertising

Online advertising is done through banner ads and by sending out newsletters. By using this method, you can pull in the right people who will want to buy your products and services. Since they have already been targeted by the niche you used to advertise in, you can be sure that your efforts are not turned to waste because they generate the right people for your products and services.

Tip #4: Social Networking Sites

Nowadays, almost everyone is on Facebook and Twitter. If you decide to join these networking sites, you will be able to connect to thousands of people throughout the world. This lets you attract a wider scope because these people already know what your business is about. As a result, they just have to follow news that you post on these networking sites.

Guerilla Marketing is a very effective strategy that can be used on any business. When you integrate it into your marketing plan, you can be sure that your efforts will not turn to waste because of it! or you can download your FREE report of Auto Mass Traffic™ directly here !!!


Article Source: 
http://EzineArticles.com/6411786

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Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Smash It Social Fan Reviews App


Smash It Social is an all in one Facebook marketing system combining an innovative “Fan ReviewsFacebook application with expert social media training designed to help entrepreneurs, internet marketers, and businesses of any size take advantage of the worlds most powerful form of advertising, “word of Mouth”, to generate more paying customers without having to spend much additional time, energy, or money.

Fan Reviews
  • This is a viral testimonial from one friend to another
  • The reviews can generate “likes,” messages, traffic, phone calls, and most importantly new customers because friends trust their friends opinions
  • Creates positive brand positioning
  • Each review that is at least 4 or 5 stars can be automatically posted on YOUR FB page as a status update for your fans to see
  • This solves the “What do I say on Facebook?” content burden and automates the absolute most impactful type of content…“earned media.”
Training
  • The Fan Reviews on Autopilot Strategy
  • Simple steps on how to put the Review Engine on autopilot to continually cultivate referrals
  • How to set up and customize your Fan Reviews application
  • How to ask for reviews so that you always get 5 stars
  • Simple reputation management techniques
  • How to manage your social media in less than 5 minutes per day
  • Email, video, and status update templates and copy
Weekly Coaching Call
  • Discover how to use Facebook to attract more free customers that call you!
  • Build massive “Earned Media” by turning your fans into raving brand advocates
  • Simple strategies that have been proven to work in ANY industry
  • How to optimize your branding for maximum impact
  • Stop feeling overwhelmed and start getting customers so you can get a good sleep at night
  • And many, many more…
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Develop Brand Marketing Strategies

Relationship between trade marks and brand
Relationship between trade marks and brand (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To the "outside world", when you create your brand you create unlimited opportunities to leverage what you do into high payoff programs, information products, teleseminars, joint ventures, workshops and more.

On the inside, creating your brand gives you a powerful sense of identity, mission and alignment with your Unique Brilliance. You feel as if the heart and soul of who you are is now (finally!) in tune with building a successful business.

But what if you're struggling with trying to figure out what your brand really is? If you haven't been able to create a high-impact, high visibility brand, that tells me three vital elements are missing from your business-branding strategy.

Luckily, once you focus on, discover and integrate these three missing elements, your brand will "pop!" This branding strategy works equally well for internet branding and other brand marketing strategies.

If creating a strong, memorable, authentic brand has been eluding you, then take a look at each of these strategies for your answers. If you already have your brand, then you can use this list as a "brand checkup," or for help in rebranding.

Branding strategy #1: What results do your clients experience from your service? 

In my Brand Authenticity workshops I ask participants to create a list of not just one or two results, but THIRTY! Why so many? Because it forces the (and you!) to dig deep and get really specific about the results you offer.

For example, let's say you're a life coach and you love to work with women on finding better balance in their lives. That's a tough sell (even though most women will wistfully acknowledge they need more balance!) Your list of thirty client results for may include: starting regular exercise programs, picking up long-wished for hobbies, joining book clubs, asking for a raise or setting clear boundaries with their kids about doing homework.

Now, isn't that a lot more tangible and sellable than quasi-results like "be more accepting,” “be happier,” or the ubiquitous (and sorry, nearly meaningless) "put themselves first for a change?”

My coaching challenge to you: You don't need to wait for my next Brand Authenticity workshop. You can create this list for yourself starting now. Just pull out a piece of paper and start listing each and every detailed result you help your clients achieve.

Branding strategy #2: What problems does your service solve?

Like the prior list, this one too needs to be more than just an answer or two. Again, aim for thirty problems your service helps your clients solve. It's okay if some of your answers overlap with your prior list – just be sure you are detailed and specific in what you list.

Branding strategy #3: What are you a stand for, no matter what?

Great brands have power and punch to them. For example, Maureen, one of my Brand Authenticity clients created the brand "Real Relationships." Another client, Jack, created "The Christian Business Profit." (I love the play on words!)

Both Maureen and Jack are clear on what they stand for and that shows up in their powerful, compelling brand names. So, what are YOU a stand for, no matter what? The "no matter what" part matters because it will shift you out of complacency or fear. It will move you into that courageous, vibrant, determined place where your passion breathes fire and life into your words.

So whether you are internet branding, rebranding or looking at branding strategies for the first time, your powerful, authentic brand is just waiting to be discovered! So what are you waiting for?


Article source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/marketing/article_3992.shtml

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